When the Blue Jays signed Vladimir Guerrero to a minor-league contract earlier this month general manager Alex Anthopoulos tried to keep expectations low by saying the former MVP was no sure thing to be part of their big-league plans.

Since then Guerrero has been working out at the team’s minor-league complex in Florida and just a couple weeks later Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com writes that the Blue Jays calling him up now “seems like a mere formality after a string of glowing reports.”

It seems difficult to believe after watching Guerrero limp through the past several seasons, but according to Chisholm he’s “moving free and easy” and “it’s just a matter of getting his timing down at the plate before Guerrero is ready for the next step.”

Last season Guerrero hit .290, but it came with minimal power and non-existent plate discipline, leading to a career-worst .733 OPS that’s below average for a designated hitter. And at age 37 further decline is very possible, which is why Anthopoulos was hesitant to play up the signing as a major addition in the first place.

By waiving Adam Lind the Blue Jays potentially cleared a path for Guerrero, but first he’ll have to show some upside on a minor-league rehab assignment that could see him play at several levels.

If he goes to AAA Las Vegas there is the risk his numbers will be inflated. Nonetheless, this is the definition of a worthwhile gamble. Considering how tight the AL East is, if he proves to have anything left in the tank he could prove to a missing piece that helps put the Jays in the playoffs. If he fails, they cut him and try someone else, maybe even Lind if he manages to fix some things at AAA.

With the Montreal Expos on longer in existence (thank-you Jeffrey Loria). Guerrero finishing his career with the Jays (back in Canada) is as close as it can get to coming around full circle. It was great to see The Kid behind the plate one final year with the Expos and now to see Guerrero in a Blue Jay uniform would be sweet.